The glitz and glamour of professional wrestling is undeniable. Those figures become "gods among men" of sorts who are idolized by thousands of screaming fans every night. What one doesn't always see, however, is that grueling, overwhelming travel schedule that those wrestlers are subjected to. That is the focus of this documentary.
Basically, the premise here is that wrestlers spend 350 days on the road each year, a ridiculous grind that makes family life basically impossible and promotes drug use, promiscuity, and alcoholism. Wrestlers such as Bret Hart, Greg Valentine, Paul Orndorff, Superstar Billy Graham, Superfly Jimmy Snuka, and Ted DiBiase (to name just a very few...many wrestlers "poke their head in" to offer brief thoughts) are interviewed about what it was like travelling from place to place in vans, buses, and airplanes and what that experience did to them personally.
I ultimately think that one's overall enjoyment of "350 Days" will come down to how many other wrestling docs they have watched. For someone like myself, who scopes out anything related to the topic, there really isn't a ton of new information. It is great to hear from "the old gang" again, but nothing really groundbreaking in terms of new material. For those who may be a bit newer to this sort of material, though, it might be more eye-opening in terms of the lifestyle that pro wrestling engenders.
What will pique the interest of all viewers, however, are some of the dichotomies present within the information. For example, though all the wrestlers bemoan the physical pain and time on the road that just comes from the profession, almost to a man everyone wouldn't change anything or would go back and do it again. Also, while some individuals blame the travel/lifestyle for their wild behaviors, others (like Lanny Poffo) take full responsibility. It is interesting to hear how these old wrestlers process their past behaviors.
Overall, this is a fine little documentary about the world of professional wrestling. As I've said, the "mileage may vary" a bit depending on your previous knowledge of the subject, but either way it is still a solid piece of work. Just seeing some of the "old gang" on camera again is largely worth the watch alone.
Basically, the premise here is that wrestlers spend 350 days on the road each year, a ridiculous grind that makes family life basically impossible and promotes drug use, promiscuity, and alcoholism. Wrestlers such as Bret Hart, Greg Valentine, Paul Orndorff, Superstar Billy Graham, Superfly Jimmy Snuka, and Ted DiBiase (to name just a very few...many wrestlers "poke their head in" to offer brief thoughts) are interviewed about what it was like travelling from place to place in vans, buses, and airplanes and what that experience did to them personally.
I ultimately think that one's overall enjoyment of "350 Days" will come down to how many other wrestling docs they have watched. For someone like myself, who scopes out anything related to the topic, there really isn't a ton of new information. It is great to hear from "the old gang" again, but nothing really groundbreaking in terms of new material. For those who may be a bit newer to this sort of material, though, it might be more eye-opening in terms of the lifestyle that pro wrestling engenders.
What will pique the interest of all viewers, however, are some of the dichotomies present within the information. For example, though all the wrestlers bemoan the physical pain and time on the road that just comes from the profession, almost to a man everyone wouldn't change anything or would go back and do it again. Also, while some individuals blame the travel/lifestyle for their wild behaviors, others (like Lanny Poffo) take full responsibility. It is interesting to hear how these old wrestlers process their past behaviors.
Overall, this is a fine little documentary about the world of professional wrestling. As I've said, the "mileage may vary" a bit depending on your previous knowledge of the subject, but either way it is still a solid piece of work. Just seeing some of the "old gang" on camera again is largely worth the watch alone.